Adrenal Medulla And its

Hormones
Shah Fahad
Lecturer Physiology
 Introduction
• made up of interlacing cords of cells known as chromaffin
cells, pheochrome cells or chromophil cells.
• Adrenal medulla is formed by two types of chromaffin cells:
1. Adrenaline-secreting cells (90%)
2. Noradrenaline-secreting cells (10%)
 Hormones And plasma level
1.Adrenaline or epinephrine: 3 µg/dL
2. Noradrenaline or norepinephrine: 30 µg/dL
3. Dopamine: 3.5 µg/dL
½ life: About 2 mints
synthesis
Metabolism
 Excretion
• Occurs in three forms in urine:
i. 15% as free adrenaline and free noradrenaline
ii. 50% as free or conjugated meta-adrenaline and meta-
noradrenaline
iii. 35% as vanillylmandelic acid (VMA).
 Adrenergic receptors
• Adrenergic receptors are of two types:
1. Alpha-adrenergic receptors, which are subdivided into
alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors
2. Beta-adrenergic receptors, which are subdivided into beta-
1 and beta-2 receptors.
M.O.A
M.O.A
Actions of catecholamine's
Stress Response
 On Metabolism (via Alpha and Beta
Receptors)
• i. General metabolism: Adrenaline increases oxygen
consumption and carbon dioxide removal.
• It increases basal metabolic rate. So, it is said to be a
calorigenic hormone
ii. Carbohydrate metabolism: Adrenaline increases the
blood glucose level by increasing the glycogenolysis in liver
and muscle. So, a large quantity of glucose enters the
circulation
• iii. Fat metabolism: Adrenaline causes mobilization of free
fatty acids from adipose tissues.
 On Blood (via Beta Receptors)
• Adrenaline decreases blood coagulation time.
It increases RBC count in blood by contracting
smooth muscles of splenic capsule and
releasing RBCs from spleen into circulation.
 On Heart (via Beta Receptors)
• It increases overall activity of the heart, i.e.
i. Heart rate (chronotropic effect)
ii. Force of contraction (inotropic effect)
iii. Excitability of heart muscle (bathmotropic effect)
iv. Conductivity in heart muscle (dromotropic effect).
 On Blood Vessels (via Alpha and
Beta-2 Receptors)
• Noradrenaline has strong effects on blood vessels.
It causes constriction of blood vessels throughout the body
via alpha receptors.
• So it is called ‘general vasoconstrictor’.
• Vasoconstrictor effect of noradrenaline increases total
peripheral resistance.
 On Blood Pressure (via Alpha and
Beta Receptors)
• Adrenaline increases systolic blood pressure by
increasing the force of contraction of the heart and
cardiac output.
• But, it decreases diastolic blood pressure by reducing the
total peripheral resistance.
• Noradrenaline increases diastolic pressure due to
general vasoconstrictor effect by increasing the total
peripheral resistance.
• It also increases the systolic blood pressure to a slight extent
by its actions on heart.
 On Respiration (via Beta-2 Receptors)
• Adrenaline increases rate and force of respiration.
• It also causes bronchodilation.
On Skin (via Alpha and Beta-2 Receptors)
Adrenaline causes contraction of arrector pili.
• It also increases the secretion of sweat.
 On Skeletal Muscle (via Alpha and
Beta-2 Receptors)
• Adrenaline causes severe contraction and quick fatigue of
skeletal muscle.
• It increases glycogenolysis and release of glucose from
muscle into blood.
• It also causes vasodilatation in skeletal muscles
 On Smooth Muscle (via Alpha and
Beta Receptors)
• Catecholamine cause contraction of smooth muscles:
i. Splenic capsule
ii. Sphincters of gastrointestinal (GI) tract
iii. Arrector pili of skin
iv. Gallbladder
v. Uterus
vi. Dilator pupillae of iris
• Catecholamine cause relaxation of smooth muscles :
i. Non-sphincteric part of GI tract (esophagus, stomach and
intestine)
ii. Bronchioles
iii. Urinary bladder
 On Central Nervous System
(via Beta Receptors)
• Adrenaline increases the activity of brain.
• Adrenaline secretion increases during ‘fight or flight
reactions’ after exposure to stress.
 Other Effects of Catecholamine
• i. On salivary glands (via alpha and beta-2 receptors): Cause
vasoconstriction in salivary gland, -increase in salivary secretion
• ii. On sweat glands (via beta-2 receptors): Increase the secretion of
sweat glands
• iii. On lacrimal glands (via alpha receptors): Increase the secretion
of tears
iv. On ACTH secretion (via alpha receptors): increases ACTH
secretion
• v. On renin secretion (via beta receptors): Increase the rennin
secretion from juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney.
 REGULATION OF SECRETION
OF ADRENALINE AND NORADRENALINE

• Adrenaline and noradrenaline are secreted from

adrenal medulla in small quantities even during rest.
• During stress conditions, due to sympathoadrenal
discharge, a large quantity of catecholamine's is
secreted.
• These hormones prepare the body for fight or flight
reactions.
• Catecholamine secretion increases during exposure
to cold and hypoglycemia also.
Thank
you